Apologies to Hughes and Slot

[Holle]

When you've come out of a football match and you didn't notice someone was on the pitch and then someone has to tell you why they were important and then tells you it's often the players that you don't notice who are doing all the hard work, that player is fucking shite and the person talking to you subscribes to the athletic and listens to the Anfield Wrap.

Also known as the 'Wijnaldum-Snydrome'.

 

[StevieM]

Nah. these aren't £6m players needing to integrate having arrived from Hull or Portsmouth. They are experienced PL or BL players that have played at very high levels already.

I'm taking it you watched our FBs last season ! Kerkez and Bradders to start from Game 1

Wirtz is one of the best midfielders in the world. Were Haaland, De Bryune etc. given time? No need, even below their best they are still top class.

Ekitike maybe the only one to require 'integration' but that will depend on other transfers. Otherwise 'throw him in', he'll learn a lot faster, nothing like learning on the job.

You’re misunderstanding me a little bit- Wirtz absolutely starts, as does Isak if we sign them.

I reckon Bradley will start the season as first choice RB - with Frimpong on the bench - as long as he stays fit. I think that’s fair, Bradley has players big games for us as RB, so Dlot clearly trusts him and I think it’s up to Frimpong to force his way in.

LB, is more complicated, but I’m willing to have a friendly bet, if there’s no injuries, that Robbo starts as first choice LB - I reckon his minutes will be managed with Kerkez regularly off the bench in the 65th minute - he’s young and I’d pull you a little bit on your experience but for him - his only European experience is Conference league with Alkmaar and he’s only had 60 off premier league games - two good solid seasons - but this is his big step up, so again, we don’t “need” to rush it

For me Robbo starts, but not for long.

Ekitike, for me depends on whether we sign Isak AND sell Diaz - I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Diaz start as the central forward if he’s still here, with Gakpo on the left.

Again, he’ll have his minutes “managed” and Ekitike will be regularly off the bench for at least the first month.

 

[Fabio]

You’re misunderstanding me a little bit- Wirtz absolutely starts, as does Isak if we sign them.

I reckon Bradley will start the season as first choice RB - with Frimpong on the bench - as long as he stays fit. I think that’s fair, Bradley has players big games for us as RB, so Dlot clearly trusts him and I think it’s up to Frimpong to force his way in.

LB, is more complicated, but I’m willing to have a friendly bet, if there’s no injuries, that Robbo starts as first choice LB - I reckon his minutes will be managed with Kerkez regularly off the bench in the 65th minute - he’s young and I’d pull you a little bit on your experience but for him - his only European experience is Conference league with Alkmaar and he’s only had 60 off premier league games - two good solid seasons - but this is his big step up, so again, we don’t “need” to rush it

For me Robbo starts, but not for long.

Ekitike, for me depends on whether we sign Isak AND sell Diaz - I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Diaz start as the central forward if he’s still here, with Gakpo on the left.

Again, he’ll have his minutes “managed” and Ekitike will be regularly off the bench for at least the first month.

All fair but i would be hugely surprised if he doesn't start kerkez from minute 1. We clearly have seen what he can do in the PL, and in trainign i'm sure he'll be impressing slot. This pre-season we're going to see kerkez and van dijk starting next to each other to build rapport for that first game

 

[Frogfish]

You’re misunderstanding me a little bit- Wirtz absolutely starts, as does Isak if we sign them.

I reckon Bradley will start the season as first choice RB - with Frimpong on the bench - as long as he stays fit. I think that’s fair, Bradley has players big games for us as RB, so Dlot clearly trusts him and I think it’s up to Frimpong to force his way in.

LB, is more complicated, but I’m willing to have a friendly bet, if there’s no injuries, that Robbo starts as first choice LB - I reckon his minutes will be managed with Kerkez regularly off the bench in the 65th minute - he’s young and I’d pull you a little bit on your experience but for him - his only European experience is Conference league with Alkmaar and he’s only had 60 off premier league games - two good solid seasons - but this is his big step up, so again, we don’t “need” to rush it

For me Robbo starts, but not for long.

Ekitike, for me depends on whether we sign Isak AND sell Diaz - I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Diaz start as the central forward if he’s still here, with Gakpo on the left.

Again, he’ll have his minutes “managed” and Ekitike will be regularly off the bench for at least the first month.

I'll absolutely take that bet on Kerkez starting, oneof the best 2 LBs in the PL doesn't need bedding in when he's here for the full pre-season. We didn't pay £40m (and he's worth more, we just paid the buyout) for Robbo to start when Robbo was falling off a cliff last season with so many error-strewn games and pace gone. Robbo will now be like an aging Millie, great to have around the team but will only be a sub and backup in case of injuries.

Sad to say Diaz won't be here (but even if he is there'd be no point playing him at CF with Wirtz and Ekitike in the squad). We'll get Isak now (but if we don't then Ekitike will be very quickly integrated - not sure he'd start the first game though, that may depend on how training goes).

 

[StevieM]

I'll absolutely take that bet on Kerkez starting, oneof the best 2 LBs in the PL doesn't need bedding in when he's here for the full pre-season. We didn't pay £40m (and he's worth more, we just paid the buyout) for Robbo to start when Robbo was falling off a cliff last season with so many error-strewn games and pace gone. Robbo will now be like an aging Millie, great to have around the team but will only be a sub and backup in case of injuries.

Sad to say Diaz won't be here (but even if he is there'd be no point playing him at CF with Wirtz and Ekitike in the squad). We'll get Isak now (but if we don't then Ekitike will be very quickly integrated - not sure he'd start the first game though, that may depend on how training goes).

Alright - bottle of sparkling Shiraz riding on Robbo starting 1 st League game and Kerkez on the bench.